Jenny Craig Diet Review: Does it Work?

With its small army of celeb success stories, Jenny Craig shows off its effectiveness.

What is it?

Jenny Craig is a weight loss program that offers consultations, prepacked foods, and motivation to support users. It’s claimed to be an all-encompassing weight loss solution that can promote real change.

It’s claimed to be effective in reducing up to 2 pounds of weight loss a week. A standard diet plan will limit calories from 1,200 to 2,300 calories depending on height, gender, and weight loss goals. There’s also a version for people with type 2 diabetes. In reviewing weight loss diets our experts found the 18Shake diet to be the most effective. It has an appetite suppressing meal replacement and a fat burning diet pill. When combined they optimize weight loss without the use of stimulants, preservatives, or fillers. Learn more information about the 18Shake Diet when you visit the link here.

Jenny Craig Ingredients and Side Effects

Here are some select ingredients used in the prepackaged foods:

Enriched Flour

Corn Syrup

Soybean Oil

Dextrose

Guar Gum

Carrageenan

Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein

Caramel Color

Sugar

Modified Food Starch

Corn Syrup: This extracted food syrup is taken from corn and is used as cheapsweetener in foods. There are concerns that this sweetener can increase the risk for obesity. Dr.Mary Hyman also lists the dangers:

“it is a major causer of heart disease, obesity, cancer, dementia, liverfailure, tooth decay, and more”

This ingredient is also only added to provide a sweet taste to foods, it has no nutritional or weight loss value. It’s known as one of the cheapest available sweeteners.

Carrageenan: Thickener and binder which is extracted from red edible seaweed. A clinical study by the Cornucopia group adds:

“New Studies Reinforce Link to Inflammation Cancer, and Diabetes”

This additive is often added to processed foods as an inexpensive way to gel ingredients together.

Guar Gum: This fiber extract is taken from the guar plant. It’s often added as a cheap thickener and binder which also has laxative like effects.

Possible side effects can include:

• Increased risk for chocking and blockages, gas, and loose stools.

• Indigestion, diarrhea, and nausea.

Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein: This gluten source is added to foods to provide a unique taste as well as protein.

Modified Food Starch: This chemically altered from of starch is often added to increase viscosity and to create a certain texture.

The full Jenny Craig package has over 100 different kinds of low calorie foods, consultations available in person, on the internet or on the phone, and personal consultations.

It’s advised to choose 5 different menu items and to select a snack of one’s choosing. This is intended to make it easy to eat foods without worrying about calorie counting as each meal is delivered.

It’s claimed that this is a way to lose weight up to 3 times more than if one were to do it on their own. A clinical study into weight loss diets reviewed Jenny Craig and found it:

“resulted in at least 4.9% greater weight loss at 12 months than control/education and counseling”

So a person weighing 200 pounds would lose on average of 9.8 pounds in a year. While this does show it’s possible to lose weight, any kind of reduced calorie plan will likely result in the same kinds of results.

EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.

Jenny Craig Quality of Ingredients

There are many cheap additives that have been shown to potentially increase the risk for obesity and other issues. These additives are only added as substitutes for more wholesome ingredients, and they’re of the included to stabilize or help the foods preserve longer.

These kinds of ingredients are often found in heavily processed foods. This makes the Jenny Craig meals a very poor offering. There is also additional support offered by this plan through counseling, but since one is meant to eat 5 of these meals, one has to continually eat processed and potentially harmful foods.

It’s also unknown if the counselors have any background in nutrition or weight loss. The website claims that counselors include former Jenny Craig dieters. It seems unlikely that they would have any certification to help give out nutritional advice.

The Price and Quality of Jenny Craig

An initial $99 enrollment fee and a $19.99 charge for 3 consultationsis one available price. For weeklong consultations it’s $39.99 a month without the enrollment fee.

For the full experience there is a charge for pre-packaged foods which can average $15 to $23 depending on the meals.

As you’ll see in the “Customer Opinions of Jenny Craig” section, there are issues with an auto enrollment plan. This is a way for companies to automatically charge one’s credit cards without prior notice.

Due to the lack of quality ingredients and the expensive price, it’s a poor weight loss solution. Web MD has reviewedJenny Craig and concluded:

“The downside is that it is expensive. The cost of the food is in addition to the cost of the program, about $100 per week, and this may be hard for some people to maintain”

Business of Jenny Craig

There are 17 complaints on their Better Business Bureau website. Here are some quotes from those who had issues:

“I have called them probably 5-7 times, still no refund”

“I will never do business with this company again”

“don’t feel like they were forthcoming in telling me that this monthly fee could go until the end of time”

“I was continued to be billed 14.99 a month after the 12 month period”

People didn’t appreciate the customer service and there were also complaints about hidden fees. Customers have also complained about being unable to cancel their subscriptions even after repeatedly trying to call customer service. Some complained that they were charged hidden fees without due notice.

Customer Opinions of Jenny Craig

“not sure how I feel about how highly processed and high sodium the supplied food items are”

“I had the worst blood sugar crash”

“I was shocked at the prices”

“Their services are a rip-off! I wasted $800 with no results!”

Many people had have issues with the Jenny Craig system. People said that it was greatly overpriced, and the quality of support is poor. There were constant issues with a lack of quality customer service, as well as people who found the pre-packaged foods to be unappetizing.

A major issue was with people who read the nutrition facts. There was worry that the provided foods had high amounts of cheap processed additives. Those who understood what these ingredients can do had issues with paying such a high price for what they could find elsewhere for cheaper.

Conclusion - Does Jenny Craig Work?

Jenny Craig offers low calorie prepackaged foods as well as counseling for people tolose weight. While reducing calories will help with weight loss, it’s important to consider cost. Many users say that they would not commit to this plan again due to the many hidden fees and auto renewal contracts. There were issues people had as well with the quality of food. People found many of the items unappetizing, and they were concerned with the heavy sue of artificial additives. Overall, customers were not satisfied with the Jenny Craig system. Users found that the foods would not be a long-term solution for weight loss, as the foods can become repetitive.

User Feedback

It is not a good program, my consultant was not very supportive. Also received frozen food which gave me food poisoning. There was no return call , They are just in it for the money!

posted Aug 9th, 2010 8:16 am

moo goo

I like it but when you are down do the last ten pounds its ridiculously slow and they counselors dont have any suggestions, other than saying its slower when you dont implement the jenny food as if their food has some magical qualities. You should be able to use your own food and it should works, so I really dont buy the plateau explanation. Also they dont offer a lot of choices for vegetarians, as I was eating pizza and pasta all week when i only used their food.

posted Jul 16th, 2010 11:13 am

Nina

+

I've maintained my weight loss, fluctuating about 7 pounds, but still well below my goal weight for a year today! Great program, great food and awesome consultants.

posted Jul 12th, 2010 8:20 am

shauna

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i just started jc and i lost 10 lbs. in one week!

it's easy, the work is done for you. just eat the

great food, exercise, and drink your water! it works!

posted May 23rd, 2010 7:02 pm

melanie tabb

never try'd it

posted Jan 26th, 2010 5:08 pm

Carol Ann

+

Easiest diet I ever followed. Where I have always fallen off the wagon before is when I get stressed and am too busy to cook or just don't feel like it. With Jenny when I am stressed I just make a point of following the plan even better at those times. I don't do meals on my own, I just eat the Jenny food and know that way I am on track.

posted Jan 17th, 2010 12:48 pm

Romayne

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After reading all the comments I'm considering Anne Bartee's suggestion and Jenny Craigin' it on my own. If all else fails & I don't get the results I want I can then pay Jennifer money to show me how to eat to lose weight.

posted Jan 6th, 2010 8:21 pm

se

+

The plan works! I lost 43 lbs over 2 years ago, and I've kept the weight off. I might gain a few pounds here or there, but now that I know how it works, it's easy to bounce back to my goal.

posted Jan 1st, 2010 12:40 pm

A.C. Teeple

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I lost about 40 pounds on Jenny Craig and, with the exception of playing with 5 pounds here and there, have kept it off. I like that they first teach you portion control through their meals and then gradually reintroduce store-bought food into your diet. The one-on-one interaction with a counselor also helped keep me on track and did not allow me to hide in the back of a meeting.

posted Dec 29th, 2009 8:57 pm

Penelope

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I love Jenny Craig. I lost 40 pounds since august. I suggest that people start doing exercises from the very first day, even they tell you that exercises is just the 20% of your weight loss.

Even thought is really, really expensive, for those like me that had try everything to weight loss is the best plan ever.

For all of those that state, weight loss is simple, cut calories, exercise more and you will lose weight, obviously you have much more self control than I do. I have done that before and have been successful, but I start off real strong and then fall off the wagon within a few months. I work shift work with long hours, so the pre-packaged plan suits me just fine and counseling helps me over my hurdles and keeps me on track. If I had the will power and the energy to eat healthy and exercise without a structured plan like Jenny Craig, I wouldn't be overweight now would I? No need to name call or degrade someone for choosing a weight loss plan that they are successful at, you should simply say good for you, it's just not for me.

posted Jul 15th, 2009 5:42 am

Michelle B

When I was a little girl, I watched my mother do every diet imaginable from shots at the doctor's office to other fad diets. The only time she ever lost weight and looked healthy while doing it, was when she was on JC. As for the taste of the food, I used to sneak some of it and it tasted great. :) Unfortunately, my mom didn't stay on it long enough and never followed through with developing the healthy habits they encouraged. So she gained a lot of it back.
When I got pregnant with my son, I gained 70 pounds, which I primarily never lost. I've been working out at the gym and still nothing. I don't eat a lot, in fact, that is my biggest problem. I eat one meal a day and that's about it so I'm told that's why my metabolism is so out of whack.
Anyhow, I'm about to start JC for six months and FOR FREE (food included) on a university study. I know it works and I know what NOT to do based on my experiences with my mom 20 years ago. I realize I could do it all myself but now I have two kids and I take care of my now disabled mother. I need the jumpstart that JC gives people.
I think it's sad the amount of anger and negativity coming from some of the other posters. I think it's that negativity that probably caused you to fail and get even angrier in the first place. Good news is, I don't really care what you think and others shouldn't either. Good luck to everyone who has made the commitment and plans to stick with it.
I wish you all well.

I have been on Jenny Craig for 18 weeks. After the first month I hit a plateau which I still haven't been able to break. I stick to the plan and work out with a trainer two times a week and run 3 x a week averaging 12 miles a week. I am on 12 calories a day. I have to say the counselors are not very helpful when you reach a plateau. This is not the first time this has happened. After the birth of my 1st daughter I went on it to lose weight and found that when I reached a plateau no one helped so I switched to Atkins losing 40 lbs in 6 weeks and keeping it off until I was hospitalized last year with pancreatitis. I have put a call in to corporate to see if they have a plateau breaking menu like they used to when I was first on JC.

posted Jun 25th, 2009 4:30 pm

faddoulski

+

Currently on JC - it's the easiest diet I've ever been on. Downfall is getting tired of eating pre-packaged foods - oh, and did I mention the cost? Upside is this is a no-brianer diet - everything is planned out for you.

I decided to go on Jenny after being on EVERY Diet known to man. Including, Nurti System, Medi Fast, Atkins, and 10,000 others. I had a hard time justifying the price but then i thought about how much I spend seriously on drive thru, eating out and groceries i buy and end up not using. It may be cheaper to buy a lean cuisine but I don't have the whole plan and program mapped out for me either. The meals are a little pricey but I am justifying it by knowing my health is worth it! Also you have the convienace of not having to prepare everything and figure it all out. I know over time they teach you all this but right now i feel to out of control with my eating habits to have to worry about every little thing going into my mouth. Weight Watchers is a great plan but all i did was think about food because I was constantly calculating points. I need something to get me going. Once I am losing and seeing and feeling better then i can take the next step and start preparing my own more. I think everything is relevent. We can talk ourselves out of it by price but what price is our health really to us? How much do we throw away ? Honestly, i might be spending less now that there are no drive thru's, dinners out, ect. Hope this helps :) Goodluck to all!!!!!

posted May 28th, 2009 11:16 am

CMB

QUESTION>>> I have recently quit the Atkins diet and of course gained. I have no desire to go back to it. Will all the carbs in Jenny meals, will it work for me???

posted May 1st, 2009 10:33 pm

andrea

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Extremelly expensive. I tried this diet over 2 months. I lost 13 pound. Instead of doing this program you could use smart choice tv dinner and save some money. I DON'T RECOMENT THIS DIET TO ANYONE. EXPENSIVE..NO RESULTS....

With more than 600 centers around the globe and thousands of female followers, Jenny Craig has established itself as a leader in the weight-loss industry since 1983.

The Jenny Craig approach is built on three tenets: food, body and mind. The food element focuses on healthy eating and portion control and also teaches you how to eat the foods you love in moderation, the body element focuses on exercise and overcoming barriers to being physically active. The mind element focuses on positive thinking and getting the support you need to reach your weight loss goals.

The program is most known for its pre-packaged and portion-controlled meals. But Jenny Craig sets itself apart from other meal-delivery diets because as you reach your goal weight, you work closely with Jenny Craig counselors to learn about portion control, healthy cooking and eating at home or while dining out.

With over 2,500 consultants, you have access to one-on-one support in person, online or over the phone to help you eat right, exercise, change habits and overcome obstacles that keep you from your goals.

After an in-depth interview with a Jenny Craig representative, you are given a personalized meal and fitness plan. The two basic programs are the In-Person Support and Jenny Direct programs. With the former, you attend weekly meetings, consultations and food pick-up at your local Jenny Craig center and the latter gives you the same support over the phone and delivers food to your door.

In addition, there are five Jenny Craig plans under the Standard program: Jenny Craig for Women, Jenny Craig for Men, Jenny Craig for Teens, Jenny Craig for Spouses and Jenny Craig for Seniors.

Program has a long history and is a trusted brand in weight loss programs

Prepackaged foods offer convenience

No food groups are off limits

Named #2 in the Best Commercial Diets by US News, 2011

CON

May be a challenge to transition from the company's prepackaged meals to "real" food

Low-calorie diet may be too strict

Weekly in-person meetings can sometimes be inconvenient

Financial responsibility of prepacked meals may not be a long-term healthy eating solution

USER REVIEWS

A sampling of feedback and experiences shared by our community.

The food is great!Ediets is disgusting. Portions are small but your stomach does shrink so you don't really need more. Not all foods were wonderful but some I would eat even when not dieting. The food seems expensive but at the end of 6 weeks, I had actually saved money. I ate less, enjoyed my meals, and lost weight. - Katrina 1/9/11

I tried the program for a few weeks and was disappointed in the lack of support from the counselors. They didnt seem to have any "real" training.They said I could tell them things I dont like and they would make sure they werent included in the foods I bought (I hate raisins and mushrooms). They assured me nothing I bought had those 2 things in them, but lots actually did. They obviously didnt know their product. Way too expensive also. - Sandy 11/29/10

I've maintained my weight loss, fluctuating about 7 pounds, but still well below my goal weight for a year today!Great program, great food and awesome consultants. - Nina 7/12/10

Easiest diet I ever followed.Where I have always fallen off the wagon before is when I get stressed and am too busy to cook or just don't feel like it. With Jenny when I am stressed I just make a point of following the plan even better at those times. I don't do meals on my own, I just eat the Jenny food and know that way I am on track. - Carol Ann 1/17/10

I lost about 40 pounds on Jenny Craig and, with the exception of playing with 5 pounds here and there, have kept it off.I like that they first teach you portion control through their meals and then gradually reintroduce store-bought food into your diet. The one-on-one interaction with a counselor also helped keep me on track and did not allow me to hide in the back of a meeting. - A.C. 12/29/09

DIET and NUTRITION

The program's success is in the Jenny Craig food, which offers convenience with portioned and calorie-controlled pre-packaged meals. The Jenny Craig plan has a daily caloric intake of 1,200-1,300 and contains 50% to 60% carbohydrate, 20% to 25% protein, and 20% to 25% fat.

Dieters eat 6 times a day, which includes 3 meals and 3 snacks.

Meals are either picked up at Jenny Craig centers or delivered straight to your door. There are four different menu options with Jenny Craig. You can customize your own meals, order pre-planned meals, enjoy an all-vegetarian menu or select a menu specifically designed for adolescents.

Eating on the Jenny Craig program can be easy because most of your meal is provided for you. Jenny Craig foods are paired with your own grocery foods like fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains and heart-healthy fats. Low glycemic veggies can eaten in limitless portions. Although the meals are prepackaged, the makeup of the foods you eat will set you up for how you should eat to maintain a balanced diet.

A dining out guide is also included so that you can eat out without sabotaging your weight loss goals. No foods are off limits on the Jenny Craig program. You work with a counselor to learn how to safely incorporate your favorite foods into your healthy eating plan.

In 2015, Jenny Craig's packaging was redesigned to help members make more informed nutrition decisions and encourage members to get creative with their meals and make their own unique recipes.

EXERCISE

On Jenny Craig you are given a personalized activity and motivational plan to get you moving more. When you meet with your consultant in the Jenny Craig office, they will help you personalize your fitness plan. This can also be done online for those that are doing the at-home delivery program. You will work to develop an approach to fitness that starts where you are now and builds on that. You will also be identifying personal barriers to your physical activity so that you can work to remove those and stay focused on the benefits of exercise.

Consultants work with members to achieve 10,000 steps a day through habit change and intentional exercise.

The Jenny Craig activity plan centers around three kinds of activities. The first are natural activities like house cleaning, shopping and gardening. Next are planned activities such as doing cardio at the gym or taking a yoga or aerobics class. Last are playful activities like taking a dance class or playing football with your kids.

Over time you gradually increase your activity through these three elements and you learn how to incorporate more movement into your day.

Your planned exercises will include a combination of cardio, resistance and stretching activities. The Jenny Craig program strongly recommends exercise while on the program so that you can have an established habit to maintain your weight loss after you’ve reached your goal weight. Some of the outlined planned exercise options as well as the playful options are listed below:

Weightlifting

Walking

Yoga

Kickboxing

Aerobic Dance

Dancing

Bicycling

Playing Basketball

Playing Tag with the Kids

JENNY CRAIG FAQ

Common questions asked about the Jenny Craig program by our community. Click to see the full answer.

With its focus on food, body and mind, Jenny Craig is a well-rounded weight loss program that offers the training and support you need to achieve your weight loss goals. Its varied programs and pre-packaged meals and snacks offers the convenience of healthy eating in combination with a personalized plan that fits your lifestyle.

While most pre-packaged meal weight loss programs don't provide you with any information on how to prepare and eat healthy meals on your own, Jenny Craig offers support that educates you on healthy cooking and eating.

The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice, doctors visit or treatment. The provided content on this site should serve, at most, as a companion to a professional consult. It should under no circumstance replace the advice of your primary care provider. You should always consult your primary care physician prior to starting any new fitness, nutrition or weight loss regime.